Pei-Chung Wang

Friction Stir Riveting: Impact of Process Parameters on Joint Performance

The Friction Stir Riveting (FSR) process consists of rapidly rotating a suitably shaped rivet, bringing it into contact with the workpieces to be joined and slowly driving the rotating rivet into the workpieces. The process, which borrows some features of Friction Stir Welding results in heating the workpieces through friction, thereby locally softening the workpieces and enabling the insertion of the rivet under reduced force. While conceptually simple the details and subtleties of the joining process have not been studied, thus little insight into the influence of processing characteristics has been generated and knowledge of procedures for enhancing joint strength is lacking. The intent of this study is to investigate the influence of rivet composition, rotational speed and penetration rate on joint performance and to compare overall joint performance with that obtained using conventional resistance spot welds.Copyright